Have you ever collected something unusual?

[Brownie]

I can just imagine  .

[floo]

Whilst not unusual, my husband collected stamps, coins and toy cars as a kid in the 50s, some are probably worth a bob or two now. Unfortunately none of our children/ grandchildren have any interest in them at all. Hopefully he will be able to give them away to someone who would value them.

[Brownie]

Toy cars go for a bomb on ebay.  My husband collected them too, well into adulthood.  The more unusual, or old in good condition, the better.  I've no idea what will happen to them all eventually, I imagine they'll be given away.  People collect things because they like them in the here and now and it's only later in life that they think, "What will my (heirs) do with this lot?".  Well, that's their problem.

My cousin aged 77 has kept every Christmas and birthday card she has received since she was a kid - can't begin to imagine what will happen with all those.

I think it is a good idea to declutter while you can, something I intend to do.  Some of my things (and the old man's), may be of use to someone else and it seems selfish to hang on to stuff I no longer use or even look at.  I'd be happy to have it sold on my behalf. 

However, nothing wrong with having a few nice things around while we can still appreciate them.

[floo]

My husband would much sooner give his stamps, coins and toy cars away to someone who would appreciate them, he has no interest in selling them.

[Brownie]

Mine is the same but I was thinking of selling stuff we don't need and giving proceeds to charity because what we bought was purchased so long ago, the money has little significance to us now.  I suppose we might think differently if something raised a thousand pounds but generally selling stuff results in small amounts coming in in bits and pieces.

However, selling is complicated and (if I am still alive) five years from now, it is quite possible the stuff will still be here in boxes.

(PS:  Floo, going off point, don't you have a birthday soon?  I know you are about three weeks behind me.)

[Rhiannon]

Brownie, if you take it to a charity shop and explain that the stuff you have is valuable they will usually have a 'spotter' who can assess it and sell it in the best place. It's much less hassle than selling it yourself. I did this when I couldn't afford to donate after the tsunami - instead I gave Oxfam some very good vintage china. In fact they sold it through their shop at market prices - I think people do expect the good shops to have high end stuff for sale sometimes.

[Brownie]

Yes Rhi, you are right there.  I did work for the Red Cross for a while when I first gave up work and they had an expert who would come in and assess things.   Some of the things the manager could assess for herself after years of experience.  What is funny is that the expert had a shop near to me in Chislehurst village and sold things there at enormous prices!   However, there's nothing wrong with that, he gave decent prices to the charity shop which they might not have received, had they just put stuff in the window.

So I will think about that shop but it is going to be one heck of a job sorting things out;  alongside which I have tons of books in boxes.  I don't want to be sentimental about all this because I know you can't take it with you.

I had a pair of Victorian decanters which my father in law gave me and my husband thought were ugly.  I wasn't all that mad about them and never used them but still I felt they might be worth a bit, apart from the fact that deceased father in law gave them and he thought they were good.   We gave them to a charity shop and a week or so later I saw them in the window of the above mentioned person's shop for one hundred pounds each!  When I told husband he was well chastened  .  That's a long time ago though so doesn't matter much now.

[ippy]

I generally don't do new year's resolutions but when the Christmas decorations came down last year my resolution for 2016 was to give the entire house, top to bottom and garage too, a really brutal and swingeing clear-out, something I've been doing ever since on and off. And I feel so much better for it. I've got rid of a huge amount of extraneous clutter (happily, some sold, much given to charity, most recycled, very little destined for landfill). I never used to be into minimalism, but as I get older I find that I'm more and more bothered and distracted by clutter and more and more attracted to clarity and simplicity - the stripped-back, travelling-light life. I find that apart from the essentials (which to me means books - not remotely unusual but I do collect them like a maniac), I try to get rid, not get, and cast off baggage, not acquire it.

Anything that has stood unused for about four years should be seriously concidered as a chuck out item; well it's my measure here.

Just acquired a fresh car and went through the paperwork for the old one, kept all bills for the wreplacement parts, all the anual MOT's, all of the certs of insurance and schredded about three pounds weight of paperwork, makes you feel good, extreemly theraputic.

looking at the handbook I think this car mows the lawn and cleans out swimming pools too, haven't got to that bit yet.

ippy

ippy

[Shaker]

Just acquired a fresh car and went through the paperwork for the old one, kept all bills for the wreplacement parts, all the anual MOT's, all of the certs of insurance and schredded about three pounds weight of paperwork, makes you feel good, extreemly theraputic.

It certainly is! Hope it went in the recycle bin, ipples ...

[ippy]

It certainly is! Hope it went in the recycle bin, ipples ...

Yes it did, other than the schredded info stuff the ID tea leaves love to get their hands on.

ippy

[Samuel]

I collect fossils, although less so these days for exactly the reasons Shaker has described. I am getting less and less tolerant of clutter.

I think it is something to do with having young children... so many toys... so much mess. Also my wife is a hoarder and in the habit of "just leaving that there until I sell it on facebook or remember to give it to so and so". I can't think if the spare room or attic without tensing up just a little bit.

[Rhiannon]

I collect fossils, although less so these days for exactly the reasons Shaker has described. I am getting less and less tolerant of clutter.

I think it is something to do with having young children... so many toys... so much mess. Also my wife is a hoarder and in the habit of "just leaving that there until I sell it on facebook or remember to give it to so and so". I can't think if the spare room or attic without tensing up just a little bit.

Oh the joys of primary coloured plastic and things with wheels that can fall off.

It does get better.

I sorted my loft and garage by moving house. Possibly a bit extreme but it worked...